The New York Knicks are in a better position than most in mid-November.
The 18-7 Eastern Conference franchise is on a five-game win streak and has the trade assets necessary to complete a head-turning deal to elevate its championship odds.
Daily Knicks' Tyler Watts recently went out on a limb to suggest that the Knicks could complete a ‘Luka Doncic-level trade heist' involving star center Karl-Anthony Towns.
"The New York Knicks can only make a blockbuster trade to acquire a superstar if they are willing to part with Karl-Anthony Towns," Watts wrote Saturday. "Just like the Lakers had to give up Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and one first-round draft pick to get Luka Doncic at last season's deadline."
"New York must be willing to part with the five-time All-Star big man to get into any sweepstakes for Giannis Antetokounmpo or another top ten player that becomes available."
"The Giannis rumors are not dying down until he’s out of Milwaukee, but the Knicks' exclusive window is gone. There will be multiple bidders, which only drives the price up for New York. It might even take two of their top six players because New York is so light on draft capital."
Parting with Towns wouldn’t be an easy task for the Knicks. After all, New York valued the former Minnesota Timberwolves star enough to acquire him before the start of the 2024-25 season.
Towns, who helped the Knicks snap a 25-year Eastern Conference Finals drought last season, has been the dynamic stretch five the franchise had been missing for years. The Kentucky product is averaging 22.4 points and 11.9 rebounds per game this season while shooting 47.4% from the field and 36.0% from three.
That said, the Knicks won’t hesitate to appease their franchise point guard, Jalen Brunson, by any means necessary, even if it means cutting ties with a frontcourt asset playing his role to perfection to start the year.
That is assuming New York identifies a trade that could drastically improve their season and future outlook (likely a deal featuring Antetokounmpo).
For now, though, Towns, Brunson, and the Knicks will continue to do their part to ensure things run smoothly in New York.
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